But second, and more importantly, we recommend that startups dive into mobile strategies because that’s where the world is headed. In certain geographic locations (e.g. India), the majority of all Internet traffic now comes from mobile devices, and the trend lines indicate that this will only become more common around the world. Indeed, Cisco predicts that mobile traffic will exceed fixed traffic by 2016.

This means that your target market may be mostly mobile by the time you’re up and running, so it may not pay to focus heavily on traditional marketing strategies (mailers, local coupon newsletters, flyers, etc.) at a time when they are in decline.

Once you finally have them figured out, you’ll be done just in time to be behind the curve. That’s not a great place to be.

Instead, by creating an app for your business and having a mobile-optimized website, you can enjoy a wealth of benefits. Here is a sampling of our favorites for startups:

You’ll make more money

According to 3×4 Consulting, 66 percent of users will not go back to a website if it gives them trouble on their mobile device. Therefore, a mobile-optimized site is a must. A traditional website that doesn’t function or display well on a mobile device results in the loss of a massive amount of traffic, and this penalty will only become more painful as mobile browsing gets more popular.

You need all the traffic you can get, and mobile will give you a nice boost. This traffic translates directly into revenue.

A mobile app also provides dozens of ways to increase income, from offering mobile ordering to customers, to push notifications that drive activity for special offers, to giving customers a way to send out social referrals to your business, and beyond.

A mobile app is a million marketing opportunities in one – and the cost is insanely low – don’t ignore it!

You’ll be more focused

Mobile leaves very little room for fluff. As you create your mobile website and app, make short notifications and offers, and participate in short-form mobile-friendly social media, you will zero in on what matters most in your business. Your most important products and services will naturally shift to front-and-center in your thinking, and unimportant distractions will fade.

It will help you capitalize on a startup’s natural advantage: flexibility

Mobile strategies are a must, but many businesses haven’t picked up on this. You, as a startup, can take advantage of mobile strategies and gain an edge over your more rigid, established competition. Users are clamoring for mobile interaction. If you give it to them, they’ll favor you over businesses that don’t.

You’re more likely to innovate when you go mobile

Using mobile technology will open up your thinking to new approaches and invigorate your business. Many things are possible with mobile technology, and by getting into the game, you may find new ways to connect with customers, improve your offerings, and increase revenue. A startup is naturally innovative, and mobile will help you keep that fresh approach over time.

You still have time to make mistakes

Mobile is not fully developed as an industry. As we’ve said, the trend is still skyrocketing and shows no signs of plateauing any time soon. This means that you can still experiment, make mistakes, and correct your flaws. Soon, this window will close, and users will have a greatly reduced tolerance for mobile experiences that are not perfectly polished.

For now, however, the mobile world is your oyster. Go harvest some pearls!

This post was provided by Bizness Apps, the world’s simplest and most cost-effective mobile app and mobile website builder for small businesses. To get started, click here.